| Dates: | 1852-1975, undated |
| Size: | 2 linear feet in 2 boxes and 4 photographs |
| Repository: | Chicago Public Library, Sulzer Regional Library, Northside Neighborhood History Collection, 4455 N. Lincoln Avenue, Chicago, IL 60625 |
| Collection number: | nnhc.jbt |
| Immediate source of acquisition: | Donated by Charles Moelter, 1985. |
| Conditions governing use: | Please consult staff to determine ability to reuse materials from collection |
| Conditions governing access: | Materials are open without restrictions |
| Preferred citation: |
When quoting material from this collection the preferred citation is: John B. Turner Collection, [Box #, Folder #], Northside Neighborhood History Collection, Chicago Public Library |
| Finding aid author: | Original author unknown. Updated and ingested into ArchivesSpace by Julie Lynch, 2021. |
Abstract
John B. Turner was born in England in 1815. He came to Chicago in 1836 and started a successful livery business. His business was destroyed by the Chicago Fire in 1871. He owned land in North Center in Lake View Township. After the fire, he and his family moved to North Center where they farmed.
The materials in this collection document the business activities of John B. Turner and include receipts, correspondence and a ledger. The collection contains some personal materials including family tree, news clippings about the family and a few photographs, including a portrait of John Turner and his family and their home in North Center.
Biographical/Historical
John B. Turner was born in England on July 10, 1815, in England to parents Mr. and Mrs. William and Mary Turner. He moved to Chicago around 1836 where he started a successful livery business. He married Sarah Patterson on January 25, 1843. They had 8 children.
Turner’s business was destroyed in the Chicago Fire of 1871. He and his family moved to North Center where they lived and farmed.
Mr. Turner died in Chicago on February 17, 1892.
Scope and Contents
This collection contains receipts, correspondence and a ledger that document business activities of John B. Turner between the 1850s – 1870s. Materials that document the Turner family include news clippings, a letter from John’s brother William Turner, and a family tree. There is 1 program from the Lincoln Club. There are 4 photographs in the collection.
Arrangement
The collection is arranged in 2 series:
Series 1: Documents and records, 1852-1975, undated
Series 2: Photographs, 1875-1912
Related materials
Stephen Bedell Clark Collection
Ravenswood Lake View Community Collection
Subject headings
- Chicago (Ill.) -- Buildings, structures, etc.
- Lake View (Cook County, Ill. : Township)
- Near North Side (Chicago, Ill.)
- North Center (Chicago, Ill.)
Collection inventory
Series 1: Documents and records, 1852-1975, undated
Scope and contents:
This collection contains receipts, correspondence and a ledger that document business activities of John B. Turner between the 1850s – 1870s. Materials that document the Turner family include news clippings, a letter from John’s brother William Turner, and a family tree. There is 1 program from the Lincoln Club.
Arrangement:
Alphabetically by topic, and then alphabetically within each topic with undated material at the end of each topic.
| Box 1 | Folder 4 | Biography - family tree for William Turner’s ancestors, dating from 1770-1975 | 1975 |
| Box 1 | Folder 3 | Biography - letter to John Turner from his brother William Turner | 1874 May 11 |
| Box 1 | Folder 10 | Biography - news clippings about the Turner family | 1912 August 14; 1937 May 30; undated |
| Box 1 | Folder 2 | Businesses – correspondence - articles of agreement between John Turner and Fredrick Kraft to allow Kraft to use Turner’s land for gardening | circa 1860s |
| Box 1 | Folder 3 | Businesses – correspondence - letter of eviction to James Donlan from William Turner | 1864 October 31 |
| Box | 2 | Businesses – Ledger – John B. Turner’s livery business ledger | 1852-1874 |
| Box 1 | Folder 5 | Businesses - Receipts | 1855-1860 |
| Box 1 | Folder 6 | Businesses - Receipts for construction work on a building and business cards | 1861-1869 |
| Box 1 | Folder 7 | Businesses - Receipts for constructions work, surveying land, sewerage | 1860-1869 |
| Box 1 | Folder 8 | Businesses - Receipts | 1870-1878 |
| Box 1 | Folder 9 | Businesses - Receipts | undated |
| Box 1 | Folder 1 | Businesses – real estate - building specifications for 3rd and 4th stories of John Turner’s building at State and Kinzie Streets | circa 1860s |
| Box 1 | Folder 11 | Businesses – real estate - John Turner’s Heirs Subdivision, photocopy of advertisement; Plat map of Lot 15 and east half of Lot 14, Block 1, Wolcots [sic] Addition; Plat map of Lot 16, north half of Lot 1, Block 3, Kinzie’s Addition to Lot 16, Block 1, Wolcott’s Addition. | undated |
| Box 1 | Folder 12 | Clubs and organizations - Lincoln Club, program | 1893 February 12 |
Series 2: Photographs, 1875-1912
Scope and contents:
There are 4 photographs from the 1870s and 1880s which include a portrait of John Turner with his family and another of the family residence, and a photo of the Moreton Truck and Storage Company. There is also a group photo of a dinner reception hosted by the Hamilton Club in 1912.
Arrangement:
Photographs are arranged chronologically.
|
Photograph 1.1 oversize |
Turner, John and family, portrait | circa 1875 |
|
Photograph 1.3 oversize |
1854 W. Addison Street, residence of John Turner family in winter | circa 1880s |
| Photograph 1.2oversize | Moreton Truck and Storage Company, Limited | circa 1884 |
|
Photograph 1.4 oversize |
Hamilton Club, dinner reception Charles Nagel, Secretary of Commerce and Labor | 1912 May 9 |
